WTO Dispute Settlement Body Panel found Russia’s ban on the importation of EU pigs and pork to be inconsistent with SPS Agreement

Abstract

Russia imposed an EU-wide import ban, as well as individual import bans in respect of products originating in four EU member States: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (EU member State bans) affecting the importation of live pigs and their genetic material, pork, pork products, purportedly because of concerns related to cases of African swine fever. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body established a panel following the European Union request concerning Russian Federation ban. Medium-term outlook for trade disputes between Russia and EU on animal origin goods will be determined providing the case of Russian ban on European pigs imports.